Big brother parking system to nab drivers

New technology to go on trial in Adelaide will use sensors to detect drivers who stay too long in parking spaces and automatically send them fines in the mail.

The automated system will be tried by Charles Sturt Council, which covers a wide part of Adelaide's west and north-western suburbs.

The system uses wireless sensors, cameras and software to monitor parking space use and automatically issue infringement notices to offenders.

The sensors log times in and out of parking spaces and the system generates a list of offenders which is checked against video footage of numberplates.

There will be no more tickets left on windscreens or dodging inspectors

Jega Balakrishnan

Electronic engineering PhD graduate Jega Balakrishnan was one of the developers of the system and said it could help with the turnover of parking spaces.

"Obviously there will be someone who's complaining about it, but at the same time there will be people who say, 'Well, this is a great system because now we can get into the city and we know that there will be a space for us'," he said.

"The current system is relying on parking inspectors and you don't have parking inspectors for each and every parking space.

"You can't just simply hire 1,000 inspectors to do that, so with our system, if you have an electronic system, it's a one-time installation.

"There will be no more tickets left on windscreens or dodging inspectors."